Wanderburg Bullet Heaven Game Enters Early Access

Wanderburg, a new 'bullet heaven' roguelike, is now available in early access on Steam. Players control a modular medieval castle that is also a tank, starting with a basic cannon and expanding the structure by leveling up.

The game is described as belonging to the bullet heaven genre, a style popularized by titles like Vampire Survivors. In Wanderburg, the core premise involves driving a hybrid vehicle-fortress through a landscape, defending against enemies and growing in power.

Expanding Your Mobile Fortress

Growth is central to the experience. Players can expand their castle-tank by absorbing cattle and sheep found in the environment. Defeating rival fortresses and causing villages to flee in terror also contributes to progression. As players level up, they unlock new modules to attach to their vehicle.

These modules include new building parts, such as barracks that spawn allied troops, and new weapons, like a giant hammer for smashing enemies. The development studio, Randwerk, also allows players to alter their movement by switching from wheels to legs, resulting in a bouncy, precarious-looking gait.

Early Access Roadmap

The game has launched into early access, meaning it is not a finished product. Rock Paper Shotgun notes the core gameplay loop is present, but more content and features are planned. The developers intend to gather community feedback and make tweaks over the next six to 12 months.

This period will be used to add more activities and elements for players to experiment with. The report does not specify a final release date or detailed content plans beyond this general timeline.

Genre and Gameplay Feel

The source expresses some ambivalence about the 'bullet heaven' and 'roguelike' genre labels, finding them non-prescriptive. However, it highlights Wanderburg's distinct conceptual hook: a drivable, customizable castle. The visual style is noted for creating a constant sense of imminent collapse, which the reporter found appealing.

The game joins a crowded field but attempts to stand out with its unusual vehicle and expansion mechanics. Players interested in the concept can purchase it on Steam now while the developers continue to work on it.